Bending-machine.



GJV. PLANTB.

BENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.. 29, 1912.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914 6 SHEETS-SHEET 1. :3k

G. V. PLANTE. `BENDING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED 00T. 29, 1912.

1,088,6 1 9, Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

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BENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0011.29, 1912.

G. V. PLANTE. BENDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED 00T. 29, 1912.

1 ,088,6 1 9. Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

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BENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OGT 29, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT FTCE,

GORDON V. PLANTE, 0F ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR TO'DIXIE PATTERN t MACHINE WORKS, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, A CORPORATION OF GEORGIA.

BENDING-MACHINE.

Losaeie.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, GORDON V. PLANTE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Bending-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in metal bending` machines and more especially to those employed in bending tubing or rods for various purposes, such, tor example, as in the manufacture of iron beds and other structures, and the primary objects ot the invention are to provide a generally improved machine ot this type which is capable of withstanding the stresses incident to the bending ot the metal, enabling` it to bend tubing` or rods ci' large sizes without straining the machine, one which is capable of bending metal, particularly tubing,

without detorming it in cross-section, and

which may be readily adjusted to form bends of diierent angles, either singly or simultaneously, and from either side ot the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide power-operated means for adjusting the distance between the bending dies whereby the distance between the bends in a length of tubing may be varied as desired.

Another object is to provide means for automatically terminating the bending operation when a bend of the desired degree has been made.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for maintaining the bending dic members in cooperative relation during the bending operation whereby the stress to which the parts are subjected is sustained without strain of the machine and the die members may be quickly and easily opened to receive the tubing and closed to the proper degree preparatory to the bending operation.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements, and combinations and arrangements ot parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out particulai-ly in the claims at the end of the speciiication.

ln the accompanying drawing Figure l is an elevation of a metal bending machine constructed in accordance with the present Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 29, 1912.

Patented Feb. 24, i914.

serial No. 728,485.

invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the machine; Fig. 3 represents a vertical section ot' one end of the machine taken through one pair of the bending die members and showing the power devices for operating the bending mechanism and for adjusting the distance between the bending dies; Fig. t represents a transverse section through the machine on the line iM-4 ot' Fig. l; F ig. 5 is an end elevation ci the machine as viewed from the right in F ig. l, the driving mechanlsm for the machine being omitted; Fig. 6 is a det-ail view, partly in section, of the driving mechanism for the machine and the cont-rolling devices therefor; Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing one ot the bending dies and its cooperating die block, the upper member of the die being separated from the lower member thereof.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

The ditl'erent features ot the present irl-- vention are applicable generally to metal bending machines of different types, although these improvements are especially adapted to machines of the type embodying means .for producing two bends simultaneously. The present invention shown in connection with a machine ot this type in the accompanying drawing and will be so described in the specification, but it will be understood that the invention is not restricted in this respect and that equivalent constructions are to be included by the claims at the end ot the specification.

In the present instance, the machine embodies a bed l oit' suitable length having longitudinally extending rails 2 formed at the top thereof. A pair ot slides 3 and a are mounted on the bed and are shittable longitudinally on the rails 2. rThe slides rest on the rails and the rails cooperate with the slides to prevent lateral displacement thereof. The slides are also provided with clamping plates 5 and 6 which cooperate with overhanging portions ot the rails, and bolts 7 and S connect these clamping plates to the respective slides. When the slides are to be shifted on the bed for the purpose of varying the distance between them, the bolts 7 and 8 are loosened, and after the slides have been adjusted as desired, these bolts are tightened, thereby securing the slides rigidly and firmly to the bed, enabling the slides to sustain the stresses imposed thereon incident to the bending of the metal as well as preventing displacement or a change in adjust ment of the slides.

The slides are provided with bending dies 9 and 10 and cooperating die blocks 11 and 12. The construction of bloc-ks on the two slides is, in the present instance, the same, and, hence, a description of one will suffice for both. According to the present. invention, a die of circular form is preferably employed, as a die of this form enables bends of different degrees to be made and it also enables a bend in the form of a complete circle to be made. To enable the die to make bends greater than a semi-circle and to facilitate removal of the bent material from the die, the die is preferably composed of complemental sections 13 and 14, the peripheral portions of which form a circumferential segmental groove 15 which surrounds and is concentric with the axis of the die, and in order to lock the sections or members of the die in cooperative relation, a break joint 16 is preferably formed between them, and dowel pins 17 may also be used and the sections of the die may be detachably secured together by a suitable number of bolts 18, these bolts preferably havinO' mutilated threads which cooperate with mutilated threads in the lower die section 14 whereby a partial turn of each bolt will either lock or unlock the die sections. The lower die section 14 is formed with a radial slot or recess 19 which is adapted to receive a key or block 20, the latter being liXed to the top of its slide, the die being thereby fixed securely to its slide and rotation or displacement of the die during the bending operation is prevented. A pin 21 extends vertically through the top of the slide and through the die resting thereon, the lower portion of this pin serving as a support to center a bevel gear 22, this bevel gear being secured rigidly to and forming a driving connection with a yoke which is composed of the upper and lower arms 23 and 24 and the connecting head 25. In the present instance, the to-p of the gear 22 is formed with a. diametrical slot 26 in which a portion of the yoke arm 24 rests, and hence, rotation of the gear 22 will cause the yoke to swing about the pin 21 as an axis. The upper arm 23 of the yoke is attached to the upper portion of the pin 21 and a nut 27 serves to retain the parts in cooperative relation. The pin 21 is supported on the slide by a nut 2S which is threaded on the pin and coperates with the upper side of the slide, this nut being acconnnodated by the radial slot 19 in the lower die member 14. The yoke composed of the arms 23 and 24 and the connecting head 25 carries the die block 11 or 12 as the case may be. Each die block is formed with a segmental groove 29 which conforms the dies and die` in its radius to the diameter of the tubing or material to be bent, the groove 29 of the die block and the circumferential groove 15 of the respective die being complemental. n order to avoid fiattening of tubing while the same is being bent, the segmental groove 29 of the die block preferably comprises a semicircle, the sides of the groove continuing at a tangent to the semi-circle whereby they may lap past the diametrical center of the tubing and thereby prevent lateral eXpan# sion or flattening of the tub-ing while the same is being' bent, the sides of the tubing being confined by the grooves in the die and die block and thereby retained in proper form.

Each die block is adjustable longitudinally between the arms 23 and 24 in order to accommodate dies for tubing or rods of different dimensions for bends of different radii and also to enable the tubing or rods to be inserted and removed prior and subsequent to the bending operation. Each die block is connected to a cross-head 30 which is also movable longitudinally between the arms23 and 24 of the yoke, the die blocks being preferably attached to the cross-head whereby it will be advanced and retracted according to the movements of the crosshead. 1n the present instance, a pair of blocks 31 are secured to the rear side of each ofthe die blocks 1l and 12, and a complemental dove-tailed block is secured to the forward face of the cross-head 30, these blocks forming an operative connection between each cross-head and its respective die block. A slide 33 is also arranged to operate longitudinally between the arms 23 and 24, this slide beingacted on by a screw 34 which is threaded in the connecting head 25 and is provided with a hand-wheel 3G whereby it may be adjusted. Preferably, the slide 33 is so connected to the screw 34 that it will be retracted as well as advanced by the screw, a pin 37 being used in the present instance which is attached to the slide 33 and operates in a circumferential groove 38 formed in the adjacent end of the screw. Means is also provided for locking the screw 34 at the dierent desired adjustments according to the size of die used and the diameter of the tubing being handled, the head 25 in the present instance being splined to form a clamp for the screw and a bolt 39 connects the splined portions of the clamp and serves to tighten it upon the screw after the latter has been adjust-ed. According to the present invention, the screw 34 is adjusted according to the dimensions of t-he die and the tubing or material being handled, and when so adjusted, the screw is locked by the clamp-operating bolt 39 and the opening and closing movements of the die block to receive the tubing preparatory to the bending operation and to bear upon the tubing during the bending operation are effected by a cam which may be quickly and easily manipulated. ln the present instance, a cam l() is used, this cam being pivoted on a pin el attached to the slide 33, the cam having a flattened or reduced side e2 and a handle i3 whereby the cam may be rotated either to bring the flattened or reduced side thereof against the rear side of the cross-head 30, thereby enabling the die block l2 to be retracted and the tube inserted or removed, and when the handle i3 is manipulated to bring the concentric portion of the cam adjacent to the handle into engagement with the rear side of the cross-head 30, as shown in Fig. 2, the die block 12 is forced forward and Vlocked in such position. rlhe handle L3 is so located on the cam with respect to the flattened or reduced portion l2 thereof that the handle is adapted to abut against the adjacent side or corner of the cross-head 30 when the cam is in locked position, and the swinging movement of the yoke during the bending operation takes place in a direction which will cause this handle @t3 to bear firmly against the cross-head, thereby locking the cam in operative position and positively preventing any backward yield of the die block. When the bendingl operation has been completed, the interruption of the nnivement of the yoke will relieve the pressure on the handle i3 and the latter may then be easily turned to release the cam and permit the die block to release the bent tubing. These yokes may be so adjusted as to operate from either side of the machine. `When single bends or more than a half circle are to be made, the removal of the tube at the completion of the bending op eration is provided for by first removing` the upper die inembei` 13. rlhe die members 13 are each provided with a radial slot all and their removal is effected by first disengaging the screws 18 from the lower die members and by then turning the members 13 to positions wherein their slots la aline with the arms 2? of the yokes in the position which the latter occupy at the completion of the bending operation. The respective member 1B is thereupon lifted from position and the tube is thus freed from the bending die. The removal of the bent tube from the machine is then elfected by manipulating the tube so as to bring the open space between the end of its bend and its body in alinement with the arms 23 of the yoke, and thereupon lifting` the tube free of the yoke.

in a machine of the type shown wherein two bending operations are capable of being performed simultaneously, it is preferable to operate the bending yoke positively and from a common operating shaft in order that ample power may be exerted to effect the two bending operations without straining the machine. ln the present instance, a shaft l5 is employed, this shaft being,` mounted in a bearing lo at each end of the bed l. of the machine and is also preferably provided with intermediate bearings et?, these intermediate bearings being fixed to the sides of the bed and accommodate between them a driving gear i8 which is keyed or fixed to the shaft. The shaft l5 is formed with a longitudinal key-way 49 and a bevel pinion 50 is slidably mounted on each end of the shaft, a key or feather 5l serving to spline each pinion to the shaft. The pinio-ns 50 are adapted to coperatie with the respective bevel gears 22 which operate the respective die blocks. lhe present invention provides means for sim ultaneously adjusting the slides to vary the distance between the bending dies and the pinions 50 which` operate the gears carried by the slides, such means consisting in the present instance of a screw having right and left-hand threads 52 and toward its opposite ends, each end of the screw being journaled in a bearing at the respective end of the bed. Each slide, 3 or l, as the case may be, is provided with a downwardly extending arm 55 which has a threaded bushing 5G iitted immovably therein and cooperative with the respective thread on the screw. lllach pinion 50 is positioned longitudinally on the shaft lby a fork 5T, and the lower portion of this fork is provided with a threaded bushing 58, the latter copi-rating also with the corresponding thread on the screw. lV ith this construction, rotation of the screw will cause the right and leftehand threads and 53 thereon to operate on the respective slides and pinions to shift them simultaneously in opposite directions and thereby adjust the distance between the bending dies, each pinion shifting in unison with its respective slide and being maintained by the screw in cooperative re.- lation with the gear 22 thereon. ln some instances, it may be desirable to render the bending` mechanism for one of the slides inoperative, and to do this, it is only neces sary to shift the respective pinion 50 out of engagement with its corresponding gear 22. To render this possible, the bushing 58 may be retained norn'ially in coperative rel ation with its respective pinion fork 5i' by a re mo 'able nut 50 and a pin (l0 may be used to prevent rotation of the bushingl in the pinion fork, removal of the nut 5S) and pin GO enabling the bushing to be turned and thereby disengage the pinion from its re spective gear. 'lo enable the bending mechanism to he readily and easily adjusted to vary the distance between the bendingl dies, the present invention provides power means for operating the screw, one end of the screw having in the present instance a gear G1 fixed thereto, and the main shaft G2 of llt) the machine is provided with a pinion 63 which is slidable and splined thereon whereby this pinion may be shifted into mesh with the gear 6l and the motion of the main shaft will be transmitted to the screw, and when the screw has operated to such an extent as to approximately adjust the distance between the bending dies, the pinion 63 may be shifted out of engagement with the pinion 61 and a hand-wheel (ill which is attached to the opposite end of the screw may be manipulated to produce an exact adjustment of the bending dies.

The shaft 4-5 which operates the bending mechanism is also driven from the main shaft 62, this main sha-ft having a pinion 65 thereon which coperates with the gear 4S. In order to enable the screw to be operated in the manner stated to vary the adjustment of the bending dies, this pinion 65 is provided with means foi` connecting and disconnecting it with respect to the main shaft in order that the bending mechanism may remain idle while the screw is being operated. ln the present instance, one face of the pinion 65 is provided with a clutch member 66 which cooperates with a companion clutch member 67, the latter being splined on the main shaft and provided with a collar 68 which is engaged by a clutch-shifting fork 69, the latter being fixed to a rock shaft 70 which is rotatably mounted in the frame of the machine and provided with a handle 71 whereby the pinion may be readily connected and disconnected to the main shaft.

Preferably, means is provided for automatically terminating the operation of the bending mechanism when a bend of the desired angle has been made. Such means consists in the present instance of a cam 72 which is adjustably fixed to one end of the shaft 45 by a bolt 73, a suitable graduated scale or index being used to facilitate positioning of this cam 72 at different angles on the shaft. The main shaft is driven by a worm-wheel 7st which is mounted in a casing 75 and cooperates with a worm 76, the latter being fixed to a drive shaft 77 which is journaled in suitable bearings in the casing 7 5, and this drive shaft is provided with a driving clutch which embodies a member 7S which is fixed to the shaft 77 and a member 79 which is loose on the shaft 77 and is journaled on a bushing 80 thereon. rfhe clutch member 79 forms part of a driving pulley S1 which may be operated by a belt or other suitable. means. loose collar S2 is interposed between the hub of the pulley 81 and the clutch member 7S, this collar being acted on by spring-pressed plungers or pins S3 which operate normally to yieldably hold the clutch members 7 8 and 7 9 in disengaged relation. The pulley' 81 constituting a part of the shiftable clutch member is proprojections 85 arranged to coperate with a fixed collar 66 on the shaft 77 the other ends of the dogs being arranged to coperate with a cone S7 which is shiftable on the shaft 77 by a hand-lever 88, entrance of the cone 87 between the dogs Si turning them and causing the projections S5 thereon to abut against the collar 86, with the result that the pulley 81 carrying the clutch member 79 is shifted into driving engagement with the fixed clutch member 7S. Means is provided for automatically holding the clutch in driving condition until a bend of the desired angle has been made. Such means consists, in the presei t instanceJ of a rod S9 which is operatively connected to the hand-lever 88 and is provided with tension spring 90 ,vhich normally tends to shift the hand-lever SS in a direction to permit disengagement of the clutch. A latch 91, however7 is carried by and pivotally connected to the rod 89 and is adapted to engage a dog 92 fixed to the casing 75 when the lever SS has been shifted in direction to engage the clutch, a spring serving to retain the latch 91 in locked position, this spring encircling a bolt 9i which is attached to the latch. A. roc-l: shaft 95 is mounted between the casing 7 5 and the frame of the machine and carries at one end an arm 96 which is arranged to be engaged by the cam '7 2 on the shaft e5 when such shaft has rotated sufficiently to produce a bend of the desired degree, and an arm 97 is fixed to the opposite end of this rock shaft and is arranged to engage and depress the bolt 94e when the rock shaft is operated by the arm 96, depression of the bolt 9ddisengaging the latch 91 from the dog 92 and permitting the spring 90 to operate the rod 89 in a direction to cause disengagement of the clutch whereby the operation of the bending mechanism is interrupted. A hand-lever 98 may be attached to the rock shaft 95 and used for the purpose of drawing' the arm 96 out of engagement with the cam 72 and thereby stopping the machine manually and at any desired moment, a tension spring 99, however7 operating ordinarily to retain the arm 96 in position until engaged and actuated by the cam 72.

A gage is preferably provided in order to facilitate the positioning of the tubing or metal in the machine preparatory to the bending operation, this in the present instance consisting of a rod 100 which extends longitudinally of the machine and is slidable in bearings 1017 one end of this rod being provided with an arm 102 which is arranged to occupy a position in alinement with the tubing when inserted in the machine and preparatory to the bending operation, as shown in Fig. 2, and a clamp 103 serves to retain the gage in different adjustvided with a pair of dogs 84e which have l ed positions. A pair of abutments 10i and ion 105 are provided to sustain the stress of bending` the tubing or rod, those shown in the present instance being located adjacent to the respective bending dies and are adjustable to accommodate tubing or rods of different diameters for which purpose the rear sides of the abutmeuts are beveled and cooperate with correspondingly beveled suil` faces of lugs 106 and 10i", the latter being fixed to the respective slides.

ln operating a bending machine constructed in accordance with the present in` vention, the tubing or rod of appropriate length is inserted lengthwise into the machine while the die blocks occupy the posi` tions shown in Fig. 2, the tubing or rod passing between the dies and their respective die blocks while the latter are relieved of pressure by their cams and the arm 102 of the gage serves to position the tubing or rod longitudinally in order that the bends will be made at the desired points. rhe cams 4t2 are then turned, forcing the die blocks toward the respective dies, and the hand-lever S8 is then shifted to engage the driving clutch which latter is retained in driving condition by the latch 91. The

. shaft is thus set into operation, causing the bevel pinions 50 thereon to swing the die blocks about the respective dies and hence bending the tubing. The bending operation continues until the cam 72 which has been previously set at an appropriate angle strikes and lowers the arm 96, the latter operating the rock shaft 95 and thereby releasing the latch 91, whereupon the operation of the machine is interrupted.

l claim as my invention zl. ln a bending machine, the combination of a plurality of bending dies and cooperating die blocks, operating gears connected to the respective die blocks, a common operating shaft having gears thereon coperative with the respective operating gears for the die blocks, and means for disconnecting one of the gears on said shaft from the operating gear for the respective die block.

2. lin a bonding machine, the combination of a pair of bending dies and a pair of cooperating die blocks having operating gears therefor, a common operating shaft for the die blocks having driving gears slidable lonlgitudinally thereon, a screw operative to shift the dies to vary the distance between them and to shift said gears correspondingly to maintain operative relation between them and the operating gears for the respective die blocks, and means for rendering the shifting screw inoperative relatively to one of said gears on the operating shaft whereby such gear may be disengaged from the operating gear for the respective die block.

ln a bending machine, the combination of a die, a yoke mounted to swing about the die, a die block carried by the yoke, a slide also carried by the yoke and adjustable lengthwise thereof, and a cam operative between the slide and die block to shift the latter toward the die and to lock it in such position, the cam having a handle which, when the cam is in locking position, engages the die block at a point whereby the drag on the latter will tend to maintain the locking position of the cam.

4;. in a bending machine, the combination of a circular die, and a yoke having arms arranged above and below the die and carr fing a die block mounted to swing about the die, the die having a circumferential groove and being composed of compleniental mem bers joined in the plane of said groove, one of said die members being notched to permit its removal from the adjacent yoke arm.

5. lln a bending' machine, the combination of a circular die and a yoke having arms arranged above and below the die and car rying a die block mounted to swing about the die, the die having a circimiferential groove and being composed of complemental members joined in the plane of said groove and connected whereby one of said members may be rotated on the other, the said rotatable member being provided with a radial slot to permit its removal from the adjacent yoke arm and with means for normally lockingit against rotation on its companion member.

(3. In a bending machine, the combination of a slide, a circular die mounted on the slide and having a recess in its under face, a block secured to the slide and engaging in the recess to hold the die against rotation, a pin passing through the slide and the die and having an intermediate threaded portion, a nut engaging with said threaded por tion, resting upon the slide, and fitted in the said recess of the die, a yoke comprising upper and lower connected arms through which said pin passes, a die block carried by the yoke for coperation with the die, the yoke being rotatable about the die and the lower arm of the yoke being disposed under the slide, and a gear wheel mounted upon said pin below the lower arm of the yoke and having a. recess in its face adjoining the yoke in which the lower arm of the yoke engages, whereby said yoke may be rotated with said gear wheel.

7 In a bending machine, the combination of a slide, a die carried thereby, a die block coperating with the die, a rotatable element carrying the die block, a bevel pinion associated with said rotatable element and mounted below the slide, an adjusting screw, a slide having a depending arm which has threaded engagement with said adjusting screw, an operating shaft, a bevel pinion slidable on said operating shaft and having driving engagement wh said first named my hand in presence of two subscribing witpnion, a bracket carrying said last named nesses. bevel pinion, and means removably assoc- GORDON V PLANTE f ated with said bracket and forming an 0peratve connection between the same and the `Witnesses:

adjusting screw. CHAs. S. HYER,

In testlmony whereof I have hereunto set JAMES L. NORRIS.

Collis! of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner o! Patents. Washington, I). C. 

